With uncertainty over how the COVID-19 pandemic will play out in the future, it is crucial that countries around the world remain committed to keeping their ports open for trade to ensure the continued flow of goods from one country to another. The declaration, supported by the International Maritime Organization, has also called on Governments around the world to designate seafarers as “key workers” to assure their safe and timely repatriation amid the coronavirus outbreak.

It has been around three months since countries all over the world went into lockdowns and tightened border restrictions to control the spread of COVID-19. Crew changes and repatriation are still a concern of seafarers as they are still being denied entry at many ports. The prolonged services onboard have caused pressure on the mental health of seafarers, pushing them towards a state of fatigue. To help crews on board their fleets, shipping companies can only try their luck as ships journey between ports to relieve their seafarers. If ships were fortunate enough to arrive at ports that allowed for crew changes, shipping companies would then make arrangements for the repatriation of their seagoing workers.